Rapid technological changes, complex skill demands, and organisational innovations in a competitive environment increasingly reflect the growing centrality of knowledge in the economy. In this context, it has become essential to assess the contribution of knowledge to the economy and to recommend policy measures that capture its evolving dynamics.

To address this need, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) is undertaking an exercise to develop a framework for measuring the contribution of knowledge and knowledge products to the Indian economy. In the absence of a comparable precedent, this exercise represents a novel initiative in this direction and necessitates association of experts and other stakeholders.  

Based on the recommendations of a meeting chaired by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India in February 2025, a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) was constituted for this purpose under the chairmanship of Dr. R Balasubramaniam, then Member of the Capacity Building Commission, comprising members from think tanks, industry bodies, academia, and representatives from Central Government ministries. A brainstorming workshop was organised in September 2025 which focused on developing a taxonomy of knowledge products and identifying potential quantitative indicators and data sources to measure their contribution to GDP. Based on the TAG’s inputs, suggestions from the brainstorming session and subsequent discussions with a wide range of experts, a Base Paper on a Framework for Measuring the Contribution of Knowledge and Knowledge Products to the Indian Economy has been prepared in the Ministry. The Base Paper can be accessed here at https://mospi.gov.in/announcements.

The Paper consists of four chapters namely;

Chapter 1: Knowledge and Knowledge Economy—Conceptual Considerations

Chapter 2: Available Methodologies and Quantities

Chapter 3: India’s Traditional Knowledge—Dimensions and Challenges, and,

Chapter 4: Valuation of the Knowledge Contribution to the Economy; A Framework Primer. 

The first chapter deals with the conceptual considerations on the dimensions of knowledge, its creation and dynamics and the recent discussions surrounding its impact on the economy. The second chapter lays out the available methodologies for evaluation of research & development, intellectual property rights, digital economy and academic output and presents a few metrics for valuing these components of knowledge. The third chapter examines the prevalence of traditional knowledge in the Indian economy and its role across activities. It reviews literature and the initiatives on its preservation, documentation, and classification, and presents related metrics. Chapter 4 presents an initial attempt to consolidate evidence into a comprehensive framework for capturing the impact of knowledge on the economy, and defines its essential constituents.

In continuation of this exercise, MoPSI has now constituted a Committee on Knowledge Systems under the chairmanship of Shri Ratan P. Watal, former Member Secretary of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister with the mandate to prepare an Actionable Policy Paper on the Framework for Measuring the Contribution of Knowledge and Knowledge Products to the Economy. The aforementioned Base Paper will form the basis for the Actionable Policy Paper.

Comments and suggestions on the Base Paper are invited from all stakeholders and the general public as part of the consultation process. Feedback may be shared with this Ministry on the email IDs: [email protected] and neeraj.kumar007[at]nic[dot]in by 15 June 2026, which will enable the early finalization of the framework.

Knowledge contribution framework seeks stakeholder input on measuring knowledge products, traditional knowledge, and economic value. A framework is being developed to measure the contribution of knowledge and knowledge products to the Indian economy, with expert consultation, a technical advisory group, and a base paper prepared for stakeholder review. The paper covers conceptual issues, available methodologies and metrics, traditional knowledge, and an initial framework for valuing knowledge contribution. A committee has been constituted to prepare an actionable policy paper, and comments from stakeholders and the public are invited.